Manningham returns to Indy for first time since his Super Bowl grab

EAST RUTHERFORD — The veteran Giants will have special memories Saturday when they walk into Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

For the Giants who were with Big Blue in 2011 when they brought home the Super Bowl XLVI trophy from Indy with their dramatic 21-17 win over New England, a return there to face the Colts will be more than just another preseason game.

For Mario Manningham it will be back to the scene of his most famous catch — the 38-yard reception he made with a tip-toe sideline catch in front of the Patriots bench that started Big Blue’s nine-play, 88-yard drive to the winning touchdown with 2:59 to play.

Manningham, who never caught another pass for the G-Men after taking the free agency route to San Francisco where he spent the last two years, another big night in Indy may hasten his return to Big Blue.

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Because of knee injuries that ruined his past two seasons, Manningham has no guarantee of being part of the new West Coast offense despite making one of the five most famous catches in Giants’ playoff history.

Because his knee has never properly healed he can’t make the moves he used to make to get open for Eli Manning passes.

“I still have to make the team,” he says now, admitting his years with the ‘Niners were “frustrating”

Manningham, 28, suffered through two disappointing seasons with the San Francisco 49ers that were marred by knee injuries. He remains unsure of the soundness of the knee, on which he had an arthroscopic procedure in January and which severely limited his effectiveness in San Francisco, a tenure he labeled as “frustrating” on Monday.

“I know my knee is fixed,” he said. “It’s just a confidence thing, sticking the foot in the ground and going. Every day it gets better and better.”

“He’s still getting his speed back, his feel back,” Eli Manning said. “He’s only been out here a for few practices but you know he’s a guy who can make plays for you. We have a good communication with things, but he is learning a new offense.”

Originally the Giants third pick in 2008, Manningham says he won’t feel special returning to the scene of his most famous catch.

“That’s history,” he said. “I don’t think about it. That happened in the past. This is a new team to me. New faces, new staff, new offense. I’m going out there to make this team. I’m not going out there like I already have it made, I have something to prove.”

What does he need to do?

“Stick my foot in the ground and break down and do the old stuff I used to do,” he said. “My strength is getting there each day. Every day I feel better and better.”

Is fighting the psychological battle his biggest challenge?

“I’m working on it. Every day I feel better. I go out and try to get back to where I was,” he said.

Returning to the scene of his greatest NFL moment could lead to Mario Manningham’s Giants renaissance.

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Ironically the player who caught a Super Bowl-winning touchdown — although it wasn’t as spectacular as Manningham’s — was at training camp Tuesday.

Plaxico Burress, showing some of the old wounds he created by ripping coach Tom Coughlin and Manning for not visiting him when he was in prison in 2010-11.

Obviously his wounds have healed with Big Blue.

Burress caught the 13-yard pass from Manning with 35 ticks to win Super Bowl XLII over the unbeaten Patriots, 17-14. Three plays before David Tyree caught a 32-yard pass off the top of his helmet to get the G-Men to the 24 and lead to Burress’ game-winner.

Although the Giants had invited him back several times, yesterday was the first time Plax took them up on the offer.